Nutrition Services for Cancer Patients

Food Safety During Cancer Treatment

An individual’s cancer diagnosis and the type of treatment they receive may weaken the immune system. Choosing and preparing safe foods can help protect from foodborne illness. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, grains, beans, lean meat, fish and low-fat dairy are important to consume to help maintain strength and immune system. These guidelines can help make sure foods are safe.

Cleaning

• Proper hand washing is the first important step for food safety. 
• Wash with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling food. Wash after touching pets, handling garbage and using the restroom. 
• Use only clean towels, sponges or paper towels to clean work surfaces, utensils and cutting boards and re-wash when switching between different foods. For example, after chopping vegetables and slicing chicken breast.
• Thoroughly rinse fresh fruit and vegetables under running water while scrubbing or brushing to remove excess dirt. Even melon, oranges and other thick-skinned fruit that are peeled before eating should be washed to avoid introducing bacteria into the fruit when cutting.

Separating food

• It is especially important to prevent the juices from raw meat, poultry and fish from coming in contact with other foods. 
• Place all fresh meat and fish in plastic bags at the grocery store and in the refrigerator before use. 
• Use separate cutting boards for meat and produce.
• Use clean dishes to serve cooked food. Never reuse a dish that has held raw meat or fish without properly cleaning with soap and warm water.
• Avoid purchasing or eating from dented cans and foods with broken seals.

Cooking

• A food thermometer can be useful to ensure food is cooked to a safe temperature. Remember that the most accurate temperature is taken in the middle or core of the food or fluid. Visit USDA’s Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart for a list of safe cooking temperatures.
• Whole or ground meats, as well as, mixed dishes, such as, casseroles should reach a safe internal temperature.
• Eggs need to be cooked until the yolk and white is firm and not runny. Avoid recipes that call for uncooked eggs such as in many cream desserts, hollandaise sauce, or caesar dressings.
• Avoid eating raw cookie dough or cake batter.
• Bring leftover sauces, soups and gravies to a boil.

Food Storage

• Avoid keeping food in the danger zone where bacteria grow the best between 40ºF and 140ºF. 
• Keep refrigerator is at 40 ºF or below. 
• Place fresh or left over food in the refrigerator within 2 hours of purchase or eating. 
• Refrigerate or freeze food immediately after purchase.
• Defrost food in the refrigerator, in cold water or by microwaving followed by immediate cooking.
• Use shallow pans or dishes to cool food before refrigerating to avoid increasing the refrigerator temperature.

General Food Safety Tips

• Avoid salad bars, buffets and potlucks to reduce risk of foodborne illness.
• Avoid unpasteurized dairy products such as unpasteurized milk, cheeses, eggnog and unpasteurized honey, juices and ciders.
• Read ‘Use By’ and expiration dates on fresh and packaged foods.
• Avoid consuming raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts).
• No raw or undercooked eggs, meat, fish or shellfish.

Bringing Food to Cancer Treatments

• Do not assume you will have access to a refrigerator or microwave. Bring ready-to-eat foods. If foods need to be refrigerated, bring a small cooler or insulated container.

For more information, request a referral from the treatment team to speak with a registered dietitian.